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JHAV RK l) TAT() lmlf PATENTED MAR' 3 l {V L ummm immuun im IQ lo! @prima gisten gatwt @Higgs Lener; Patent No. 75,123; aafeaMml. s, 186s.

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TO ALL WHOMUIT MAY:b CNCERN': i l

Y ,Be it known that I, JOHN C. CLARK7 of Elmira, in the-county of Chemung, and Stato of New York, have invented a new and useful Improved Potato-Digger; andvI do hereby declare the following to bea clear and exact description of the nature thcreof,'suii.cienti to en-able others skilled in the art to which my invention appertans to fully understand and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- 'Figure 1 is a top view of the device illustrating my invention. Figure 2'is a side view thereof.

My invention relates to certain improvements in potato-vdigger, and consists "in the cutter for the vines, A

r, and the means for operating the various parts thereof, i

ulsothe peculiar hoes -and the oscillating-rake or shake as will be hereinafter more fully describedf.

In the drawings, represents the axle, mounted upon wheels B, and vsupporting the frame C. To the axle` is secured the`draught-pole or tongue D, which, with the other parts specied, is of ordinary form and con-- struction.

i To the pole D, I pivot braces E, which extend downwards, and are pivoted to vertical arms F, having a rising and falling motion betweenguides a,se`cured to the frame C. These arms have, at their upper end, stoppins which limit the downward play of said arms, and prevent them from being moved toward the fron-t of the pole or tongue.

G represents thervine-lcutter, consisting of transverse knives c, secured to disks, which are journalled to the lower `end of` the vertical arms F. The cutting-edges of theknives are in concave form, or ofthe form of an arc of a circle, so that knives conform to the shape of the hills or rows in which the potatoesfare planted, i

To the forward ends of the longitudinal bars of the frame I pivot braces H, which extend downward, `andhave their lower ends pivoted to vertical -arms I, which pass upwards, and are connected together to a bail orhaudle, ol, so as to be readily operated. The lower ends of the vertical arms, I carry hoes J, which are secured thereto in any suitable manner. These hoes consist of blades havingr their forward ends of tapering orA pointed forms,

and are arranged transversely side .by side. 'Each blade or hoe is provided, on its upper side, with av longitudinal ridge, e, which may extend partly or entirely the length of theblade or hoe, and may consist of a separate piece secured to the hoe, or of one piece struck up or stamped in proper shape.

V.A portionof the upper end of both arnisl isV cut away so as to form a notch, into which ts a catelnf, pivoted to'frauic C, where, when the catch is v,in the notch, the arms I will hold the hoes' down to their work. The same catch is also adapted to enter an opening in the arms below the notch, so as to hold the hoesabove the rows or hills when the device is not to b e operated. 'v

To one of the wheels B, or its hub, I secure, in any suitable manner, a toothed wheel, K, which receivesits motion from said wheel,'a nd gears with a smaller but similar wheel, y, secured to-a shaft, L, having its bearings atthe forward end ofthe frame C. Theshaftji also carries a bevelswheel, which is secured to said bshaft at a point between its bearing. This w'heel z' gears with a similar wheel, j, secured to a shaft, L, whose' bearings are on the middle cross-bars of the frame C. 'lhe forward bearing, M, of said shaft L, has a transverse motion, and

is adapted to slide freely on it5-cross-bar, It isV evident that thc bcvel-whcels z'jimay be easily putin and out of gear by means'of the sliding bearing of the shaft L.

In order to keep the wheel z' away 'from the wheel j, 1 employ a hinged block, 7c, which is secured to the crass-piece of the-frame, and is adapted-to swing down and bear against'the side of the bearing M, and thereby prevent its motion'toward said block. A similar block, Z, is secured to the frame at a point opposite to block k, and is intended to bear against th'ecorrcsponding side of the bearing M, when-the block c is swung up, and the bearing M moved away from the block Z.V The block l'serves to keep the wheels j in gear, and operates similar te block a. Y s v The rear ofshaft L carries an eccentric, n, provided with a wrist-pin, on which is pivoted one end of an arm, o, whose' other end is pivotcd near the side of the upper part of a frame, N, which is suspended between `theA wheels l5. This frame N carries, at its lower side, the shaker or rake 0, which consists of a series'lof tccth secured to said frame-end projecting longitudinally from the rear thereof, and arranged in the form of an arc,

behind the hoes J, so as to receive the ground and potatoes from the hoes.. The frame is provided, near its upper end, with friction-rollers or wheels p, which play on the axle, and serve to give auniform motion to the shaker.

It is evident that if the wheels'z'j are in gear, and the wheels 'B be moved forward, power will bc communicated to the shaft L, through the medium of gearing 7c g-z'j, and thereby cause the shaker to oscillate. If,

however, the wheels t'jbe thrown out of gear, then no motion will be communicated to said shaker, and it therefore remains-at rest.

When it is desired to usc the device, the horses are started, the wheels j are thrown in gear, and the hoes J lowered to their full extent. The cutter G will be suspended by its own gravity, and its knivesV cut the vines. It willfully rise and fall relatively to the inequalities of the hills, but -its weight will always cause it to bear against the vines while `the knives straddle the hills or rows, owing to their conformity with the-shape of the hills, and thereby surelr cut the vines. The hoes enter the ground, and, by'means of their ridges, c, cause it to be well raised and thoroughly broken, so as to deliver the dirt and potatoes to the shaker, whence the latter are soon cleaned of the former, and both separated.

When all the work is done, the cutter G and hoes J can be quickly raised, the shaker be made inoperative,

and then. all the parts are out of the way or in a state-pf` rest.

l? represents the driverfs seat, supported by a suitable standard upon the rear of the frame C, so that the driver is Within reach of the handle or bail of the hoes.- The hinged blocks k Z and the sliding bearing M should havesuitable levers, pins, or arms, to be readily reached by the drivers foot, and thereby throw the wheels in and out of gear as desired.

The shafts for the gearing will have the necessary collars or shoulders, to prevent unintentional longitudinal and lateral play, u nd their bearings bepro'perly secured or retained in place. l I desire to construct my device of suitable wood and metal, and do not limit myself to the-especial or exact shape of the various parts, as described,I further than they operate to accomplish the purposes intended'.

Having thus described my invention, what Iglaim as new, and desire to secure by Lett-ers Patent, is

1.' The cutter G, wiith-arcshaped knives c, substantiallyas described.

2. The cutter G, sliding arms F, and pivoted braces E, combined and operating substantially .as described.

3. The hoes J, provided with ridges e, substantiallyas described.

4. The hoes J, sliding armsl, and pivoted braces H, combined and operating substantiallyas described. v"

5. The sliding bearing M, shaft L, and eccentric, n, or equivalent, in combination with the shaker O, sub= stantially as and for the purposes described. v

b.` The combination of the arm o, eccentric, n, or equivalent, and reciprocating frame N, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. I

7. The hinged blocks 7c Z, in combination with the sliding bearing M, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. The eombinationof the cutter G, hoes J, and shaker O, substantially as dcscribed.

To the above I have signed my name, this day, the 15th January, 1868.

JOHN C. CLARK.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. Coon, L. C. TALLMADGE. 

